Canada has unveiled its integration of renewable energy on the farm (IREF) Web site, which is a complete repository of technical information and online tools for analyzing the potential for integrating renewable energy sources onto individual farms.

"We've taken the best information available on renewable energy technology for the agricultural sector and made it easily accessible through the Internet," says Joe Preston, member of parliament. "The IREF Web site also provides online tools that will help farmers assess viable options for using renewable energy and determine the exact return on their investment."

IREF is the result of a four-year partnership among Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), Agriculture Canada and more than 20 agricultural and energy organizations across Canada, and represents an investment of $1.2 million by the government of Canada.

The IREF project was led by researchers at NRCan's CANMET Energy Technology Centre - Canada's largest science and technology research organization dedicated to clean energy research, development, demonstration and deployment.